NMFS issues final specifications for the 2013 and 2014 Atlantic bluefish fishery, including annual catch limits, total allowable landings, commercial quotas and recreational harvest limits, and a recreational possession limit. This action establishes the allowable 2013 and 2014 harvest levels and other management measures to achieve the target fishing mortality rate, consistent with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan and the recommendations of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

The final specifications for the 2013 and 2014 Atlantic bluefish fishery are effective June 6, 2013, through December 31, 2014.

The removal of submerged debris from New Jersey’s waters as a result of Hurricane Sandy will be going on all summer and possibly throughout the fall in areas out of the main channels. 

A team of contractors is removing waterway debris, including cars, vessels, buildings, docks and boardwalks, furniture, accumulated sand, and many other materials, from coastal and tidal waterways from Bergen County to Cape May and up the Delaware Bay to the Delaware Memorial Bridge in Salem County.

Earlier this month (April), NOPC attended the Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Planning Workshop in Arlington, VA.  The two-day invitation-only event was convened by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean and federal agencies involved with ocean planning in the Mid-Atlantic.  While the event organizers will be posting a report and video clips from the workshop sometime over the coming weeks, a summary of some of the statements and topics of interest is provided below.  

During the meeting, it was announced that the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body (RPB) has been formally designated.  Under the National Ocean Policy Executive Order, the Mid-Atlantic RPB is tasked with developing a Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan for Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

A public hearing for the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Omnibus Recreational Fishery Accountability Amendment has been announced.

Written comments must be received on or before 5 p.m., EST, on May 15, 2013. The public hearings will be held on April 29, 30, May 1, 2, and 3, 2013 during this comment period. All public hearings will be held from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. For details on hearing times and locations, please click below. 

The National Marine Fisheries Service is taking two actions regarding the recreational Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) Angling category fishery:

(1) closure of the southern area trophy BFT fishery (73" or greater) effective 11:30 p.m. local time, Thursday, April 4, through the remainder of 2013; and

(2) adjustment of the daily retention limit that applies to the HMS Charter/Headboat category (when fishing recreationally), effective April 4, 2013, from 1 fish measuring 27 to <73" to:

1 school BFT (27 to <47”) and 1 large school/small medium BFT (47 to <73”) per vessel.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its Research Set-Aside (RSA) Committee will hold public meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 through Thursday, April 11, 2013. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

 ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Embassy Suites Raleigh Crabtree, 4700 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27612; telephone: (919) 881-0000.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold a public meeting.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ninety days after Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeast, the U.S. Small Business Administration crossed the $1 billion threshold of approved loans to more than 16,800 homeowners, renters and businesses. This makes Hurricane Sandy, in terms of SBA disaster lending, the third largest natural disaster in U.S. history, behind Hurricanes Katrina/Rita/Wilma ($10.8 billion), and the Northridge Earthquake ($4 billion).

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee will hold public meetings.

The meetings will be held February 12, 2013, through February 14, 2013. For specific dates, times, and agenda, see below

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Tilefish Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting via webinar.

DATES: The meeting will be held on February 05, 2013, from 9 a.m. until noon.